This post details a Fire Risk Assessment we undertook for a residential property client in Cambridgeshire.

Description of the premises

The building is a four bedroom two storey house that includes three bedrooms and a fourth bedroom that has been converted into an office for the purpose of caring for vulnerable people. There are two members of staff that sleep in the building due to the nature of their work. There are two additional staff working from 9am-5pm. The house has a single-door entrance leading to a hallway and a double patio exit. There’s a garage on the left of the house with a driveway in front of it. All rooms have FD30s: 30-minute fire-resisting doors. The doors are self-closing with intumescent strips and cold smoke seals fitted around the edges.

The house is of traditional modern construction, made with brick and block, plaster, wooden flooring, and concrete.

Who’s potentially at risk?

The two staff members who work during the day and any visitors or contractors are at risk, as well as the two members of staff who sleep in the building.

Fire safety plan of the building

A fire safety plan for the building has already been drawn up and is kept in the fire safety logbook.

The purpose of the Fire Safety Risk Assessment

Identify the fire hazards in the building

Identify who might be at risk of the fire hazards

Evaluate the risk arising from the fire hazards

Assess whether the property’s fire safety measures are adequate, or if additional measures are necessary

Record the findings of the risk assessment

Provide a comprehensive action plan where measures are necessary

The scope of the Fire Safety Risk Assessment

The Fire Safety Risk Assessment is done to make sure the property complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The risk assessment is to address property protection or business continuity, but rather exclusively to assess the fire safety measures of the property. It is not business, tax, or legal advice.

Likelihood of fire definitions

Risk of fire

Low Risk: The likelihood of a fire occurring is unlikely.

Normal Risk: The likelihood of a fire occurring is possible due to the nature of the building, processes being carried out, or the type of occupants. Most properties fall into this category.

High Risk: The likelihood of a fire occurring is probable due to the nature of the building; over 50 litres of flammable liquids are stored, sleeping accommodation is provided, hazardous materials, and processes are being carried out or due to the type of occupants.

Risk of harm to people

Slight Harm: Outbreak of fire is unlikely to result in serious injury or death of any occupant.

Moderate Harm: Outbreak of fire could result in injury of one or more occupants but is unlikely to involve multiple fatalities, other than the death of an occupant in a room in which a fire occurs.

Extreme Harm: Serious potential for the serious injury or death of one or more occupants.

Need for action

Trivial: No action is required.

Tolerable: No major additional measures are required. However, there may be a need for minor improvements.

Moderate: It is essential that efforts be made to reduce the risk. Risk reduction measures should be implemented within a limited time period.

Substantial: Major work is required to reduce the risk. Consideration should be given to restricting the use of the building.

Intolerable: The building should not be occupied until the risk is reduced.

Fire Safety Risk Assessment risk levels

The property’s current preventative measures are at normal risk.

With the company’s current safety measures, its employees are at slight harm.

The risk to life from fire in the building is tolerable

Fire Safety Risk Assessment review

The responsible person should review the Fire Safety Risk Assessment regularly to make sure its fire safety measures are up to date.

There should be a comprehensive review of the assessment every year, so the responsible person should review it next in August 2023.

High priority items

The residential property has no high priority items.

Overview of medium-priority items

The property must conduct certified marshal training and record it in the logbook.

Additional sockets must be installed to limit the use of extension leads.

The holes in the ceiling must be fire stopped with 30-minute fire-resistant material.

Overview of low-priority items

The fire extinguishers must be serviced annually.

Records

Is there a fire safety logbook that tracks the following?:

Fire alarm system? Yes.

Emergency lighting system? Yes.

Fire fighting equipment? Yes.

Escape routes and fire doors? Yes.

Staff training and fire drills? Yes.

Housekeeping assessment

Are the general standards of housekeeping adequate?:

Are combustible materials separated from ignition sources? Yes.

Are accumulations of combustible waste and storage avoided? Yes.

Are boiler rooms and electrical intake rooms free of storage? Yes.

Are combustibles appropriately stored? Yes.

Is there any area where the housekeeping could be improved? No.